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“I’m sorry. That must be difficult for you.”
She tips her face down, and I notice gunmetal gray tendrils escaping her normally tidy bun and a small stain on the collar of her otherwise fastidious outfit. “It has been. Our daughter comes when she can, but she has the children to look after. I don’t have enough time in my day." She looks up at me, and her face is softer than I’ve ever seen it. “Even with the extra you’ve taken on, there isn’t enough time. I haven’t said thank you. Or told you that you’re doing an excellent job.”
“Thank you for saying that, Mrs. Corbyn. I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to fit into Bearberry Bay. I’ve fallen in love with these kids, this place, the logistics of running the day to day. I’d like to buy the school.” I slide the folder I’d brought in with me across her desk. “This is my offer. It would allow you to retire early without any loss of income.”
Her mouth had dropped open as soon as I said the word “buy”. She snaps it closed now with a click of teeth. “You—” Confusion covers her face. “You want to buy the school?”
“Yes, Ma’am. My attorney prepared the documents, but please take the time to have them looked over. My attorney will also verify the funds are immediately available.”
“I— I don’t know what to say. This is unexpected.”
I stand. “It’s okay. You can let me know.”
I close the office door behind me and get lost in the Friday shuffle of classes and parents and last-minute tasks that need doing before the weekend. The teacher in the one-year-old class needs to leave early for an appointment, so I fill in. But I see Mrs. Corbyn leaving with the folder tucked under her arm. At least she didn’t set it on fire!
After closing, I ride back to the B&B and change into jeans and a leather jacket I picked up at the Army Surplus a couple of towns over.
My stomach is giving me fierce growls for skipping lunch, and I run through dinner options in my head as I head back outside. I’m reaching for the helmet draped over the handlebar by the chin strap, when a rough hand grabs my elbow.
Icy panic flows into me, freezing all movement. It isn’t like me to be caught so unaware. My body is paralyzed with apprehension.
“Hey, sis!” Bray’s familiar voice sinks in. He’s come around in front of me, and I soak in the changes the last few years have made. He’s older, obviously. His hair has darkened, and I can’t tell if that’s an occurrence of nature or the fault of the grime and grease covering his tangled copper curls. His face is lined, and fresh sores are open along his jawline. He grins, showing the same overlapping front teeth I remember, but there are clear signs of decay.
“Bray! What are you—”
He pulls me in for a squeeze, and I automatically hold my breath. When he releases me, I see the manic in his eyes that has ruined the few brief reunions I’ve had with my brother. The shine in his eyes, the tremor in the hands he tries to hide by shoving them into his pockets. My heart flutters. It still can’t harden enough not to care.
“Lai, that attorney tracked me down.” He nods and pulls out one hand to scratch at a sore on his neck.
“He told me Meemaw left you some money for me.” He smiles again and I catch a shadow of the young boy, clever enough to keep his baby sister fed. “Just came to get it.”
I keep my voice low. “It’s in a trust, Bray. The attorney has to make any payments.”
“That half-ass attorney?” his volume escalates. “Shyster says I have to go to rehab to get any payments!” He’s yelling now, and I look around to see if anyone is watching. He notices and lowers his voice again. "I know you can get it.” Now he sounds like a child cajoling a parent into buying ice cream.
I shake my head, and he grabs my arms with both hands. “I need some of that money, Lai!”
I back up a step and his hands fall away. “I can’t get it, Brayden.”
“Then give me a loan for now, Lai. You got plenty.”
“I can’t give you money, Bray, but I know a nice facility—”
“You want to lock me up, too, Lai? I didn’t expect that from you. My own sister.” He rocks back and forth on his toes now and runs his hands through his hair, pulling at the strands.
I move slowly, putting my hands into my pockets like they’re cold. Really, I’m palming my bike key.
“Bray, I’ll help you. You know I’ll always help you. But I can’t give you money or we lose it all. Nan’s will specified that.” He doesn’t need to know she and I discussed how best to keep me safe from exactly this scenario.”
He’s pacing now back and forth, and I take another step away and toward the bike.
“You don’t have to tell anyone Lai.” He’s getting angry, which equals unpredictable. “You can just get the cash and hand it to me. No paper trail.”
I’m close enough to the bike, I pull the keys out and hold them with my body between my hand and Bray, so he can’t see me find the ignition by feel and slide the key in.
“Lai, get in the car!” he gestures to a faded-blue Nissan with rust spots around the door edges and the trunk tied down with a rope. “We can go to the ATM right now. No one will know.”
I don’t move.
